Hall is to go before Preston Magistrates' Court after being charged with the offences last month.

The 83-year-old is accused of one count of rape allegedly committed in 1976 against a 22-year-old woman and 14 offences of indecent assault against 10 girls aged between nine and 16 which allegedly took place between 1967 and 1986.

He has been a familiar face and voice in British broadcasting for half a century and was last year awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.

The father-of-two, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, maintains his “total innocence” of all charges.

Hall’s lawyer Louise Straw claims he is the victim of a “pursuit of celebrity”.

She said: “These are all denied.

"None of the complainants thought fit to report any of these matters over the last three to four decades.”

The former It’s a Knockout presenter and Radio 5 Live sports reporter has been a familiar face and voice in entertainment for half a century and was last year awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting and charity work.

His eccentric football match reports have made him a cult figure among listeners on BBC Radio 5 Live who tune in to hear his unusual and amusing style.